FAQs
What do you mean by "Whole Child Education"
and “Holistic” education?
Whole
child education focuses on educating children intellectually,
emotionally, socially and physically. We believe that
a fulfilled, creative and productive life involves considerably
more than mental development or the ability to earn a
living. As important as these things are, every child
also needs the balance provided by healthy emotional,
social and physical development. Both Waldorf education
and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences approach
are used at Desert Star to understand and meet the needs
of the whole child.
Another
aspect of whole child education is the consideration of
different learning styles. Research in this area has given
educators new directions for making changes in their classrooms.
Lessons and activities blend cognitive, auditory and kinesthetic
approaches to address the students’ various dominant
learning styles. We will place a high priority on our
students "learning how to learn". Storytelling,
language arts, arithmetic, the sciences, singing, art,
music, drama and movement will be integrated to provide
the students with opportunities to receive information
through many modes of learning. The primary guiding principle
will be to engage the whole child with the subject matter
by incorporating multiple learning modalities into every
learning experience.
What are Multiple Intelligences?
Howard Gardner, a Harvard professor, put forth the idea
that there are many types of intelligence and our educational
system is catering to only one or two. By teaching in
a way that appeals to a variety of different learning
styles children can process information holistically and
more effectively. The types of intelligence are:
Linguistic
word and language-based learning
Logical-Mathematical
numbers-based, logical, linear learning
Visual-Spatial
visually oriented, artistic learning
Body-Kinesthetic
physical movement and action oriented learning
Musical
melody, pitch, and rhythm-based learning
Interpersonal Intelligence
social-emotional, group interaction and relationship
learning
Intrapersonal Intelligence
inner reflection, self awareness and introspective
learning
Naturalist Intelligence
nature-based, environmental, scientific learning
We believe that
every child is gifted in his or her own way. A holistic
approach to education helps to develop the child’s
unique gifts and talents while strengthening all intelligence
areas.
What is Waldorf Education?
See
www.waldorfanswers.org/PublicWaldorf.htm
for comprehensive information
about Waldorf in public charter schools.
Waldorf
is an educational philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner,
an Austrian philosopher, educator, scientist and artist.
The first Waldorf school -- for the children of employees
at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory -- opened in
September, 1919
in Stuttgart, Germany.
Steiner
designed the school's curriculum around children's natural
course of development, incorporating their imaginations
into their lessons and encouraging artistic mastery, as
well as creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Waldorf
teaching methods emphasize a nurturing, multi-sensory,
nature-based learning environment. The stimulation of
the child’s imagination and creativity is a high
priority. Daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms help provide
consistent structure to the educational process. Multiple
learning modalities are integrated into daily lessons
to create a learning atmosphere that is supportive, challenging
and meaningful to each student. Opportunities for artistic
expression abound throughout the grades
Currently,
Waldorf is the fastest growing independent educational
movement in the private sector, with more than 800 Waldorf
schools and 120,000 students in 45 countries. Approximately
125 Waldorf schools operate in North America, and a growing
number of Waldorf-inspired public and charter schools
are beginning to sprout up across the country.
What makes Waldorf unique from other schools?
Once you've stepped into a Waldorf-inspired classroom,
and you have seen the children's artwork hanging up on
the walls, the beautiful and elaborate illustrations in
their main lesson books, once you've had a chance to listen
to the children stamp their feet and clap their hands
through the multiplication tables to a hundred and beyond,
once you've seen your child run out of the classroom at
the end of the day with a big, bright smile on his face,
day after day after day, it's only really until then that
you truly realize that Waldorf is indeed unique.
That's
because Waldorf teaches the whole child. In addition to
rigorous academics, Waldorf-inspired methods also address
a child's emotional growth, helping her learn valuable
inter-personal skills and self-disciplined behavior.
While
artistic expression plays a central role in each grade,
students master a variety of different disciplines, including
mathematics, natural sciences, composition, foreign languages
and handwork. Often, Waldorf is described as an education
that includes the "head, heart and hands," emphasizing
growth mentally, emotionally and physically.
Where is the school located?
Desert
Star opened its doors at a new location for the 2007-2008
school year. The school’s new property in Cornville
is centrally located to the entire Verde Valley. The areas
served includes Cornville, Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale,
Rimrock/Lake Montezuma and Camp Verde.
What is a charter school?
In
Arizona a charter school is a public school, administered
separately from the public school district. The charter
school receives public funds to run the school and must
articulate state standards and testing like a public school.
However, the curricular emphasis and school governance
are specified in the school’s charter, which also
serves as the school's contract with the state. In Arizona,
charter schools have more freedom to set their own goals
than in other states. It is important to note that charter
schools receive substantially less funding per child than
public schools and receive no funds for the purchase or
improvements of facilities.
What is the focus of your curriculum?
Our school integrates academic, artistic, and practical work, inspired by the innovative curriculum of Waldorf education, a teaching method used in over 800 schools throughout the world. Arizona educational standards for each grade are integrated into lessons and academic excellence is cultivated throughout the grades. Art and music are taught at all grade levels and a nurturing environment and creative play is important in the kindergarten. Grade students perform plays and learn handcrafts in addition to studies of history, science, language arts and literature, mathematics and foreign language.
Is this a religious school?
No.
The school does however have a moral or values-based aspect
in educating the 'heart' toward responsibility, respect,
and compassion.
Will teachers follow a class through multiple
grades as is done in Waldorf schools?
The school plans to have teachers follow students through multiple grades, with a flexible approach to determine what is in the best interests of the students. A student would have one teacher for Kindergarten, another teacher for 1st through 3rd grades after which time an evaluation would be done to determine if the teacher would continue with the class for 4th through 6th grade. Some teachers are particularly suited towards teaching the younger or older grade students and this may also be a consideration.
How will reading be taught?
Each
child will learn to read when developmentally ready and
the school will be respectful of each child’s individual
rate of progress. Desert Star’s approach will utilize
the Waldorf model along with teaching the state standards
for reading. This will be done by offering opportunities
to read and write in the early grades while allowing each
child to progress at his or her own pace in a pressure-free
environment.
What grades are offered? Will there be mixing
ages of children in the classroom?
The school offers Kindergarten through 6th grade. There are numerous opportunities for children of different ages to interact in class and on the playground as multi-age groupings are encouraged and seen as beneficial, creating a supportive, family feeling in the school community.
How many students will there be in each class?
Classes are small with a maximum of 24 or less students, with the exception of the K, which has a maximum of 22.
What will the school require for teacher qualifications?
Desert
Star requires faculty to be highly qualified as defined
by the Arizona Department of Education. The criteria includes
the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and passage of
a State test for competency. Teachers will be selected
based on an evaluation of their ability to deliver the
curriculum and vision as described in the school’s
charter.
A
Waldorf teaching certification will not be required. However,
if a teacher hired by the school does not have a background
in Waldorf teaching methods, the school will require training
in the teaching methods as part of the teacher’s
professional development.
What is the plan for parent participation in
the school?
As
a community school, the active participation of parents
both within and outside of the classroom is essential
in supporting the school’s educational program.
Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer at least
50 hours per school year. Parents’ professional,
cultural and creative knowledge, talents and abilities
help to make Desert Star a vibrant, dynamic learning environment.
In addition to the classroom assistance, the school relies
on parent volunteers to perform many non-classroom jobs
such as school maintenance and improvement, clerical duties,
fundraising and outreach.
Desert
Star Community School acknowledges that circumstances
may not allow some parents to be involved in the school
to extent that they might wish; therefore parental involvement
will not be a requirement of school enrollment.
How can I participate in the development of
the school?
The
Parent Council is responsible for assigning volunteer
activities for the school. They will match your interests
with an appropriate volunteer activity. Please call the
school office at (928) 282-0171 to find out who to call.